Rizal mayor now wants MMDA’s garbage
abs-cbnnews.com | 07/03/2008 12:14 AM
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By SANDY ARANETA
Backtracking from his previous stance of banning garbage trucks from Metro Manila, Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo offered a 40 percent discount Wednesday to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for the use of the town dump.
Cuerpo said they can operate the dump at cost in order to get 2,000 metric tons of garbage daily to feed a power plant that the Rizal town will open this month. The power plant will run on methane generated by decomposing waste.
He also extended the offer for the use of the dump to Metro Manila’s local government units and all private garbage contractors.
Cuerpo said the power plant is expected to produce 15 megawatts of electricity, enough for 15,000 homes in the town. He also said the Rodriguez municipal government would earn about 10 percent of the gross sales as royalty.
He said since the municipal government has a contractual obligation to the Montalban Methane Power Corp., which will run the plant, it is the town’s legal obligation to continue to operate and improve the landfill.
Cuerpo said while the MMDA pays landfill operators P600 per metric ton of garbage it deposits at the dump, he is offering a discounted rate of P360 per metric ton.
He said since Metro Manila produces 8,000 tons of garbage daily, the MMDA pays a total of P1.75 billion per year. However, a 40 percent discount means the MMDA would save P700 million annually.
Cuerpo said he is optimistic that the discount would be "highly considered" by the MMDA and Metro Manila’s local governments.
MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno said they are studying Cuerpo’s offer, but noted that other factors must be considered, such as the cost-effectiveness of delivering garbage all the way to Rodriguez, Rizal.
